Photo by: Andrew Pedersen
Homegrown Coaches, Athletes Leads to Success for Cross Country Program
10/16/2018 11:58:00 AM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
The presence of student-athletes from the State of Montana has been evident so far during the 2018 cross country season for the Bobcats
Lyle Weese, the Montana State Director of Track and Field and Country, was a standout student-athlete at MSU. Growing up in Dillon, Mont. Weese graduated with a business degree, but decided he wanted to change directions professionally and get into coaching.
Weese started coaching in 2009 under the tutelage of longtime Montana State coach Dale Kennedy. During that time, he learned about the tradition of Montana State long-distance running.
"We have typically been very strong in the distance events," said Weese. "We've had a lot of spectacular individuals, national champions, running elite times here at Montana State. It's definitely built a strong reputation. We've had a good sense of camaraderie between our distance runners and our entire track and field teams."
The Bobcat cross country teams have got off to a solid start to their 2018 season. Both programs finished first as hosts at the MSU Cross Country Classic at Bridger Creek Golf Course on Sept. 15. MSU's full rosters gained valuable experience over the course of Sept. 28-29 competing at the Montana Invitational and Roy Griak Invitational in Minnesota.
Most recently, the Bobcats' sent seven on the men's and women's sides to appear among some of the best in the nation at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals. The results saw MSU individuals finish ahead of Power-Five program runners, along with the team finishing ahead of plenty in their field at this year's DI national championship meet course.
A third of the Bobcat men's cross country team features freshmen and MSU's top seven runners in each race have been a native of Montana. The MSU women's team showcases more upperclassmen, but also has a few freshmen and a newcomer in Gillian Maness. That Bobcat squad is highlight by both in and out of state student-athletes. With the additions on both teams, instilling tradition becomes even more important.
After experiencing success at Colorado State-Pueblo, Maness missed home. Transferring is never an easy decision for any student-athlete. A student-athlete makes relationships in a program that can last a lifetime. But, Maness has played a valuable role for the Bobcats this year. She's been the team's third-best finisher in all three races she's appeared in.
"I did a visit my senior year of high school and ended up really liking (MSU)," said Maness. "I enjoyed the team environment. I knew a lot of people on the team, knew I really liked Bozeman and liked the program."
The Montana running community grows up training in tough environments. Cross country runners have to grind through races in the heart of a Montana winter. Dealing with that type of environment helped the Bozeman boys high school cross country team win a national title in 2016.
Freshman Duncan Hamilton, the second-place runner in the Hawks' lineup on that national championship team, is now one of the five freshmen on the men's roster at MSU.
Hamilton has experienced early success this season. He's finished second for the Bobcats in two races and was third among MSU runners at the Pre-Nationals. He credits the team and sense of community at MSU to his strong collegiate start.
"The team has been super accepting here of all the freshman," said Hamilton. "We were welcomed right away as part of the guys. Over the summer, I was getting pushed by my new college teammates which was super big, to feel like I was already a part of the team. Having a group of five freshmen all from Montana has increased the sense of community and belonging. We all feel at home here and can all push each other."
When recruiting student-athletes, Weese does his due diligence. He tries to focus as much on who the prospective student-athlete is as a person, as who they are as an athlete.
"It starts with how they're doing academically," said Weese. "Then their athletic performance level. A big thing too is how they treat people. (I try to) kind of get a sense of what they're like."
The adjustment from high school to college can be rough on a number of students. Keeping the freshmen and underclassmen adjusted can play a role throughout a season.
Being able to recruit the talented runners from MSU's backyard can also be a substantial advantage for Weese and the Bobcats. It's started to make a different this season already. The Bobcat men's squad is highlight by 10 from the Treasure State, while the women's team has 11 from Montana.
Having runners used to the Montana landscape that are ready to train and grind out a race no matter what the conditions are sets the tone for the rest of the team.
Maness, a native to Kalispell, Mont., credits the relationships she had going into this season to helping her adjust after transferring.
"A lot of us kind of knew each other in high school and it's kind of fun now that we're on a team to run together again," said Maness. "I also think it's good people from outside Montana are here too. It helps mix it up and to meet new people."
With Montana being home to a number of talented runners, Weese knows if he can keep the runners in state and close to home, the team will excel.
"If we get a lot of the best kids out of the state of Montana, we can be one of the very best teams in the mountain region," Weese said.
Weese started coaching in 2009 under the tutelage of longtime Montana State coach Dale Kennedy. During that time, he learned about the tradition of Montana State long-distance running.
"We have typically been very strong in the distance events," said Weese. "We've had a lot of spectacular individuals, national champions, running elite times here at Montana State. It's definitely built a strong reputation. We've had a good sense of camaraderie between our distance runners and our entire track and field teams."
The Bobcat cross country teams have got off to a solid start to their 2018 season. Both programs finished first as hosts at the MSU Cross Country Classic at Bridger Creek Golf Course on Sept. 15. MSU's full rosters gained valuable experience over the course of Sept. 28-29 competing at the Montana Invitational and Roy Griak Invitational in Minnesota.
Most recently, the Bobcats' sent seven on the men's and women's sides to appear among some of the best in the nation at the Wisconsin Pre-Nationals. The results saw MSU individuals finish ahead of Power-Five program runners, along with the team finishing ahead of plenty in their field at this year's DI national championship meet course.
A third of the Bobcat men's cross country team features freshmen and MSU's top seven runners in each race have been a native of Montana. The MSU women's team showcases more upperclassmen, but also has a few freshmen and a newcomer in Gillian Maness. That Bobcat squad is highlight by both in and out of state student-athletes. With the additions on both teams, instilling tradition becomes even more important.
After experiencing success at Colorado State-Pueblo, Maness missed home. Transferring is never an easy decision for any student-athlete. A student-athlete makes relationships in a program that can last a lifetime. But, Maness has played a valuable role for the Bobcats this year. She's been the team's third-best finisher in all three races she's appeared in.
"I did a visit my senior year of high school and ended up really liking (MSU)," said Maness. "I enjoyed the team environment. I knew a lot of people on the team, knew I really liked Bozeman and liked the program."
The Montana running community grows up training in tough environments. Cross country runners have to grind through races in the heart of a Montana winter. Dealing with that type of environment helped the Bozeman boys high school cross country team win a national title in 2016.
Freshman Duncan Hamilton, the second-place runner in the Hawks' lineup on that national championship team, is now one of the five freshmen on the men's roster at MSU.
Hamilton has experienced early success this season. He's finished second for the Bobcats in two races and was third among MSU runners at the Pre-Nationals. He credits the team and sense of community at MSU to his strong collegiate start.
"The team has been super accepting here of all the freshman," said Hamilton. "We were welcomed right away as part of the guys. Over the summer, I was getting pushed by my new college teammates which was super big, to feel like I was already a part of the team. Having a group of five freshmen all from Montana has increased the sense of community and belonging. We all feel at home here and can all push each other."
When recruiting student-athletes, Weese does his due diligence. He tries to focus as much on who the prospective student-athlete is as a person, as who they are as an athlete.
"It starts with how they're doing academically," said Weese. "Then their athletic performance level. A big thing too is how they treat people. (I try to) kind of get a sense of what they're like."
The adjustment from high school to college can be rough on a number of students. Keeping the freshmen and underclassmen adjusted can play a role throughout a season.
Being able to recruit the talented runners from MSU's backyard can also be a substantial advantage for Weese and the Bobcats. It's started to make a different this season already. The Bobcat men's squad is highlight by 10 from the Treasure State, while the women's team has 11 from Montana.
Having runners used to the Montana landscape that are ready to train and grind out a race no matter what the conditions are sets the tone for the rest of the team.
Maness, a native to Kalispell, Mont., credits the relationships she had going into this season to helping her adjust after transferring.
"A lot of us kind of knew each other in high school and it's kind of fun now that we're on a team to run together again," said Maness. "I also think it's good people from outside Montana are here too. It helps mix it up and to meet new people."
With Montana being home to a number of talented runners, Weese knows if he can keep the runners in state and close to home, the team will excel.
"If we get a lot of the best kids out of the state of Montana, we can be one of the very best teams in the mountain region," Weese said.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
Friday, October 27
Wednesday, November 13
Wednesday, October 23
Wednesday, October 16
